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SLINGS & CARRIERS

WALLYPOP GOODIES

Second Quality Items

How to Wear Your Carrier

Wallypop slings and carriers can be worn in many different ways. Here's a brief instruction manual with a few of the most common holds. Another great website for instructions is Peppermint or mamatoto. I also found this wonderful article at The Babywearer about newborn positioning.

Please use care when carrying your baby in your Wallypop sling. As with all slings, your baby is not fastened in. Be sure to support baby while bending or stooping and take care not to run your baby into anything. Wallypop is happy to help its customers learn how to use their slings and carriers, but assumes no liability for their use or misuse.

Ring Sling
Pouch
Mei Tai
Onbuhimo
Podegi
Versa-Carry Wrap
Bali Baby Wrap
Patapum Carrier

General Tips

Start with a happy baby.
Keep moving. Don't stand still to mess with the straps or the rings or whatever. Bounce, sway, or walk while you fiddle with the carrier. Even good-natured babies will not happily wait while you stand and adjust the carrier.
Make sure baby is comfortable. Double-check that nothing is pinching hands or legs, make sure no straps are cutting in, etc.
Understand and appreciate that babies, like adults, need/want to change position every once in a while.
Also understand that not all babies like all carrying positions. My son hated cradle holds, for example.
Don't despair if your baby doesn't seem to like the sling on the first try. Try again the next day, and again if necessary. It's new to both of you!
We found it easy, while running errands in the winter, to put the carrier on under our coats, then pull Wally in and out of the carrier during the day as needed.

Ring Sling

First, some basic ring sling anatomy. The end opposite the rings is called the "tail." Each of the sides of the sling is called the "rail." There's a front rail (which is furthest from your body) and a back rail (the one between you and baby). These rails can be adjusted separately by pulling on the desired rail.

To loosen the sling, just pull up on the front ring while supporting your baby with your other hand. To remove the sling, or to remove baby from the sling, loosen the sling, then slip it over baby's head while holding him with your other hand.

When putting the ring sling on, always adjust it to approximately the level you will wear it before putting baby in. Then, hold baby where you will want him to rest, and again adjust the sling up to the baby. Never put the baby in a sling that is too loose, and then try to raise it after you've put the baby in - this is needlessly difficult and potentially dangerous.

Threading your Sling

1. Hold your sling as shown. Rings in one hand, sling hanging down.

2. Pull sling's tail through both rings.

3. Thread the tail back through the top ring as shown. (It's just like those belts from the 80s.)

4. Slip the sling over your head and one arm as shown. Make sure the rings rest at about armpit level, the seam at your shoulder, and that the tail hangs down towards the front. Create a little pouch for your baby.

Cradle Carry

Sling in position, adjusted to the approx. height where you'll wear it. Hold baby in your arm, football-hold-style.	Slip baby and your arm into the sling. Baby lays at an angle - head towards outer rail, feet towards inner rail.	Still holding baby's weight with your arm, adjust sling with free hand to the appropriate height.

Slip your arm out, make any adjustments to keep everyone comfortable. You can adjust the inner and outer rails separately if needed.	And here you go. Baby looks like a burrito. She is NOT laying deep down inside the pouch, parallel with the rails. She is angled, as in a hammock, looking at me.	This is a view looking down over my shoulder. You can see that I can clearly see baby's head, which is resting towards the outer rail of the sling.

Tummy To Tummy or Front Carry

More explicit how-to photos coming soon!

Many babies like to be held upright.

Hold baby so he's facing you, and slip his little feet into the sling pocket. Lower him into the sling until he is chest to chest with you. Tighten the sling snugly, making sure that the lower rail forms a little seat for your baby's little bottom. The inner rail will rest at the back of baby's knees, and he will sit with his bottom lower than his knees.

On a younger baby, you might try creating a pocket as you did for the cradle hold, so that the inner rail of the sling is between you and baby. Baby's legs would then tuck up like a frog.

Some babies like to be more wrapped up - you can easily pull the sling up and over baby's shoulders or head if you desire. This is particularly handy when they fall asleep and their little heads flop all over.

You can also nurse with the baby in the chest-to-chest position - just loosen the sling a bit to allow the baby to sit lower on your body, and latch him on in a sort of football hold. I usually needed to support Wally's head with my hand when I nursed him in this position.

Hip Carry
	Start out holding baby on your hip. I have the sling adjusted so that it's resting approximately where I will want it once the baby is situated.
	Lower baby into the sling.
	As You lower the baby in, make sure the top rail comes up at least to baby's armpits, and the bottom rail rests behind baby's knees. Baby will sit in the sling with his knees higher than his rear end.
	As you can see, baby is seated securely, bottom lower than hips.
	Adjust the sling as necessary, pulling the tail out to bring baby higher, or pulling on the individual rails to make finer adjustments.
	And you're done! You can nurse in this position by lowering baby so that his mouth is at a level with your breast. He will nurse sitting up.

Nursing

You can nurse three different ways in the ring sling. Pictured is nursing from the cradle hold. Get your baby situated in the cradle hold, then simply turn their body so that they are tummy to tummy with you, in nursing position. Pull up your shirt, and you're ready to go! You can pull the body of the sling up as pictured for privacy, or you can drape the sling's tail over baby for even more privacy.

You can also nurse while baby's tummy to tummy or in the hip carry. In either of these positions, just lower baby so that they can reach your breast. They can nurse comfortably while in this seated position.

Kangaroo or Buddah Carry

This carry is easiest once baby has good head control. However, we did use it even before this, being careful to keep a hand or arm on Wally's head at all times for support.

To put baby in this position, first create a pouch in your carrier for baby. There should be fabric between you and baby!

Hold your baby as shown, with legs crossed.

Lower baby into the sling, adjust as necessary. Some babies will like their feet more under/close to their rear ends, others will like their feet up near their faces.

Back Carry

For older babies, the back carry can be handy. Put your baby into your sling just as described above for the hip carry, except place the rings as close to the top of your shoulder as you can. Adjust the sling but leave it loose. Then simply slide the sling - and baby - until your baby is behind you. Finish adjusting the sling and you're ready to go!

If you're planning to carry baby on your back a lot, I would consider using a wrap, Mei Tai, or Onbu instead of a ring sling.

Pouch

Start out with the pouch over one shoulder, fold at the bottom, open edges at the top. The seam should always be under baby's bottom.

Generally speaking, you can follow the instructions given above for the ring sling, just ignoring references to adjusting the sling with the rings.

Cradle Carry

Pouch is over one shoulder, opening up, seam in front. Hold baby in football hold.	Slide baby and arm into pouch, angling baby so that her head is towards the outer rail, feet towards the inner rail.

Slide your arm out.	Make any adjustments to baby's position

And here you are.	This is a peek over my shoulder. See how baby is not laying deep in the pouch, parallel to the rails. Baby is instead laying at an angle facing you, head towards the outer rail. If needed, you can lay a towel or blanket, folded up, under baby to lift her up a bit so she's not so deep.

Mei Tai

General tips: Always bounce and pull on the shoulder straps to snug the carrier tight before tying. You don't want it to be loose!

Need Help Getting Baby On Your Back? Go Here.

Back Carry - Rucksack

Once you've gotten baby on your back, bring the straps straight down your shoulders and to the back.	Cross the straps in an X under baby's bottom. Some parents prefer to put the straps so that, as they come around, they go OVER baby's leg, across their bottom, and UNDER the opposite leg. Others prefer to have the straps over baby's legs on both sides.	Tie the straps in the front, and here you are!

This is another photo showing where the straps go.

Back Carry - Crossed Straps
	To wear your MT this way, after you have baby on your back, cross the straps in front of you. Women with larger breasts may prefer to twist the straps together a few times. Bring the straps around to the back and tie as above.	Please note, this green carrier is one I sewed just for me, and I was short on fabric, so I made the straps narrow. This worked out fine for us while Wally was little, but the straps on the carriers I sell are over twice as wide as this photo.
For a Tibetan-like carry in the MT, which pulls the shoulder straps towards your chest and removes some pressure from the shoulders, please see the instructions for the Wrap Rucksack/Tibetan carry.

Back Carry - high back

The process is largely the same as above, but you start out with the carrier's waist straps tied around your chest, either above or below your breasts.	This situates baby higher up, so they can look over your shoulder.

Hip Carry

Tie the carrier on your waist, hanging over one hip.	Hold your kid on your hip.

Pull the body of the carrier up around baby's back, and place the front shoulder strap over your left shoulder, hanging to the back.	Grab the back shoulder strap and bring it around your back...

...around your back	...and up to your right shoulder, coming to the front. Be sure to pull tight.

Bounce and pull the straps tight, and tie under baby's bottom. If you prefer, you can cross the straps under baby's bottom as with the back carry, and tie at your opposite hip.	And you're done!

Front Carry

Tie carrier around your waist.	Pick up baby and hold him to your chest. An older baby's legs will wrap around your waist, a newborn's legs will tuck up inside the carrier.

Pull the carrier up around your baby and hold your baby with one hand on the outside of the carrier.	Use your other hand to toss the straps over your shoulders.

Grab the straps behind your back and cross them. Pull them nice and tight. Too many people make the mistake of not tightening this carrier enough. After you've done a few bounce-and-pulls, bring the straps to the front.

Tie straps under baby's bottom. You can bring straps under or over baby's legs. Shoulder straps can go over or under baby's arms.	A younger baby who needs additional back support can be accommodated by tying the straps behind baby's back as shown.
To nurse in the MT, you would just loosen the shoulder straps and bounce a bit to lower baby enough so that he can latch on. This is not always the most comfortable, since older babies will be situated so that their weight is resting on your groin - ugh.

Onbuhimo

Need Help Getting Baby On Your Back? Go Here.

Back Carry

Get baby on your back. Here you are, one strap over each shoulder, baby on your back.	You may cross the straps if you like, most people prefer to have the straps go straight down. Thread one strap through one of the rings. I usually hold the other strap in my hand while doing this, maintaining appropriate tension to keep baby securely on my back.

Thread the other strap through the other ring, still holding the first strap and keeping it tight. (Some people use their teeth or knees for this.)	Put one strap in each hand...

...and bounce and pull before tying to snug everything up.	Once you're snug, go ahead and tie.

And here you are.	If you want, you can thread the strap ends through the straps at your shoulders to keep all of the pressure off your stomach.

Front Carry

Hold baby and carrier in front of you.	Bring up to your chest.

Keeping a hand on baby, throw the straps over your shoulders.	Reach behind and cross straps.

Like so. Keep one hand on baby, use the other to cross the straps.	Thread the straps through their respective rings.

	Pull snugly

And tie.	And here you are!

Podegi

Need Help Getting Baby On Your Back? Go Here.

Front Carry

Sit down. Put baby (or stuffed elephant) on your lap. Wrap carrier around baby, either over or under arms.	Bring carrier around to your back, cross in back, and bring straps over your shoulders.

You can stand up at this point. Bring straps down over your shoulders and cross under baby's bottom, creating a little "seat" for baby.	Bring the straps to the back and tie.

Back Strap Carry

Get baby on your back, carrier across baby's upper back. You should be bending over as pictured, which helps keep gravity working for you, not against you. Cross the carrier in front of you and throw the straps over your shoulders.	Bring the straps down behind you, then cross under baby's bottom, creating a nice little seat for baby.

Bring the straps around to the front and tie at your waist.

This is what it looks like from the back...	...and from the front.

Back Torso Carry

Get baby on your back, carrier across baby's upper back. You should be bending over as pictured, which helps keep gravity working for you, not against you. Cross the carrier in front of you and bring the straps back under your arms to the back.

Cross straps under baby's bottom, giving him a nice seat.

Bring the straps back around to the front and tie above your breasts.

Here's what it looks like from the back.

Versa Carry Wrap

There is an almost unlimited number of ways to wear a baby in a wrap. This is but a sampling of the many ways to wear this versatile wrap! The Babywearer has excellent directions and links to more information on wearing positions.

Need Help Getting Baby On Your Back? Go Here.

Cradle Carry

Fold the carrier in half lengthwise. Lay the middle of the carrier across your chest, with the open edges at the top and the fold at the bottom.	Cross the carrier behind your back and bring the ends up over your shoulders.

Make sure the carrier is not drooping - it should be right across your chest, not at your waist. Hold your baby reclining in your arms.	Tuck your baby into the pocket at your chest.

Wrap one end across the baby's body, making sure it is spread out and not bunched up.	Wrap the other end across your baby's body. Baby now has the two wrap ends making a wide X across her body.
	To nurse, just rotate baby into the right position. You can pull the straps into whatever position is most comfortable and supportive.
You can adjust the strap under baby's head as needed for support, privacy, whatever.

Hip Carry

Place center of sling over one shoulder, bring straps down to opposite hip. Guess at how much room you'll need to leave for baby. (in this photo, the center of the sling is on my right shoulder, and I'm bringing the ends to my left hip.)	Cross ends at your hip, then bring straight across to opposite hip. Cross there and bring the ends back around and tie. (in this photo, I bring the ends across to my right hip, cross, then back to my left hip and tie.)	Insert baby. Baby's bottom goes right into the X created by the wrap at your hip.

Spread the fabric out over baby's bottom and back. Adjust tension if needed.	And here we are!

Back Rucksack or Tibetan

Once you have baby on your back, bring the wrap ends straight down and to the back.	Cross under baby's bottom. The straps go OVER baby's leg, across baby's rear, and UNDER the opposite leg.

I find it easiest to to one side, at a time. Tuck the first strap between baby's leg and your torso while you fix the other strap.

This is what it looks like from the back. You can see the X that forms under baby's bottom.	Tie in the front. Nice and cozy. For more thigh support, I could tug the strap further towards Wally's knee.

Here is another view. This mom has chosen to put the straps over baby's legs on both sides, which is fine, as well.	You can also see that she prefers to tie the wrap in the back, so her wrap crosses under baby's bottom, crosses at her belly, then ties in the back.



For a tibetan carry, which removes the pressure from your stomach and is excellent for pregnant mamas, tuck the ends of the wrap into the opposite shoulder straps.

And then tie. If you have extra long wrap ends, like I do, you can wrap them around and tuck under baby's bottom.

Front Wrap Cross Carry

It's usually easiest to start without baby in your arms. Put the middle of the wrap at the middle of your chest, cross in the back, and bring the ends over your shoulders.	Insert baby. Baby's legs can peek out the bottom, or they can remain tucked inside if baby is a newborn.

Grab one end of the wrap and pull it snugly. Bring it across baby's back and under his opposite leg. In this photo, I have the wrap end from my right shoulder, I cross it behind baby's bottom, and under his right leg.	Do the same with the other end. Make sure to smooth and spread both ends as you wrap, and that you are pulling them snug.

Cross the ends behind your back, again, making sure you are pulling snugly.	You can tie the ends at your back or, if you have enough length, you can bring them around to the front and tie under baby's bottom.

We do not recommend wearing baby facing out in any wrap-style carrier. This position does not provide baby with an adequate amount of support through the hips and thighs.